We’re all a bit different. Some of us look forward to the day we’ve set aside annually for dusting, decluttering, and dumping half the things we own in the trash. Some of us avoid that day until it’s almost Thanksgiving, and we realize that the entire family will be here tomorrow…

But no matter who you are, you’re probably looking forward to spring! A new season, a fresh start, and a bit more time in the great outdoors than winter would allow for. Even when you’re stuck inside doing chores, it’s nice enough you can prop open a window for the breeze and catch a whiff of daffodils and tulips!

Perhaps your flowerbed isn’t quite blossoming yet. Regardless, there’s a restlessness all around that begins with the first itch of warm weather. We’ve been itching on and off for a while, now. Maybe that’s what has me in spring cleaning mode; wanting to wipe down windows, scrub the floor, and dust off even the space behind the books on the shelf. Maybe you’ve been feeling that itch too, but don’t know where to start this year.

What words come to mind when you think of Valentine’s Day? Flowers? Romance? A fancy dinner? Or perhaps your first thought is of that sweet, silky smooth confection, chocolate.

During the month of February, it’s sitting on store shelves everywhere. For chocolate lovers who are still trying to keep their New Year’s Resolutions, this proves an obstacle. Some avoid the holiday altogether to try and keep their goals. Unfortunately, this means they’re missing out on some surprising health benefits that chocolate can provide. The trick is knowing what kind to buy.

The advantages of chocolate are hidden in the base ingredient: cocoa. Cocoa beans contain antioxidants that can benefit your mouth and teeth when consumed in small quantities. These antioxidants are also linked to a healthier heart. The darker the chocolate, the more cocoa it contains, although the best results come from bars containing around 70% cocoa.

Most bars advertise the percentage of cocoa they contain on the label, making this easy information to find when you’re at the store. And since the cocoa makes the chocolate so rich, you’re tempted to eat less per sitting.

If you aren’t one for pure dark chocolate, another way to get your antioxidants is by mixing cocoa powder with warm almond or coconut milk for homemade hot chocolate, or adding it to plain or vanilla Greek yogurt or your favorite berry smoothie. You can also use carob, a tropical pod similar in nutrients to cocoa. Carob doesn’t contain caffeine like cocoa does, and naturally tastes less bitter. This makes it a great option for those who are sensitive to caffeine, or dislike the bitterness cocoa leaves behind.

If you feel a chocolate craving coming on this Valentine’s Day, don’t worry that you’ll be ruining your diet. Just opt for something a little darker, a little healthier, and a little better. Not only will it take care of your sweet tooth, but your body, and your mouth, will thank you.

Many people remove their wisdom teeth as a precaution. However, the majority of people actually do experience some kind of issue with their wisdom teeth, making removal the best choice. There are several factors that determine whether or not your wisdom teeth can stay or go. Here are the top reasons you may need to get your wisdom teeth removed:

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are often impacted, which means they’re not able to fully grow through the gum line due to limited space. If you’ve previously had orthodontic work done, the arrival of your wisdom teeth can effectively ruin your orthodontic work by pushing your bottom and top rows of teeth forward. This can cause overcrowding and crooked teeth.

Overcrowding does more than ruin the appearance of your smile—teeth that are too close together or in awkward positions can become breeding grounds for plaque and bacteria. These accumulated bacteria are often difficult to remove without professional cleanings, and can lead to tartar, which can eventually lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

Gum Disease or Tooth Decay

Wisdom teeth are notoriously difficult to clean. This is often because they’re so far back in your mouth that they’re not able to be reached properly with regular brushing and flossing. They’re also difficult to clean because oftentimes they don’t actually come through the gum line, and their suspended state there can lead to gingivitis, or the beginning phase of gum disease.

Gingivitis is a swelling of your gums caused by buildup of plaque around the gum line. Eventually, your gums can recede, you may lose bone in your jaw, and your teeth could need to be pulled. Gum disease can spread and lead to tooth decay and the potential need for extractions.

Infected Wisdom Teeth

If your wisdom teeth are impacted, they could irritate your gums and other teeth due to their tricky position in the mouth. They could also rub against your gums and cause painful cysts. These cysts need to be professionally treated. Infection can also happen because again, wisdom teeth are difficult to clean. To avoid irritation and infected teeth, many patients choose to get their wisdom teeth removed.

Pain

If you let your lower wisdom teeth mature, they could grow near the nerve in your bottom jaw and be difficult to remove, not to mention painful. They can also cause mild to severe headaches such as migraines in addition to jaw or facial pain, and make it difficult for you to chew. Pain is often a reason why people opt to get their wisdom teeth out—too often patients who leave theirs in experience painful symptoms just a few years later.

Getting your wisdom teeth removed is a personal decision that should only be guided by a professional dentist and oral surgeon. X-rays will be needed to determine the location of your wisdom teeth and if they’re impacted or not. Consider these top reasons your wisdom teeth may need to go!

Are you confused whether to spend the extra minute or so flossing every day? Recent reports have left many people wondering exactly that! Some of these reports focus on how the 2015 Dietary Guidelines did not include flossing. But the government has not changed its stance on the importance of cleaning between your teeth. The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) has simply chosen to focus its information more specifically on food and nutrients, rather than oral hygiene.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed in a statement to the American Dental Association that “flossing is an important oral hygiene practice. Tooth decay and gum disease can develop when plaque is allowed to build up on teeth and along the gum line. Professional cleaning, tooth brushing, and cleaning between teeth (flossing and the use of other tools such as interdental brushes) have been shown to disrupt and remove plaque.”

Flossing doesn’t just remove plaque. It also takes care of the 500 plus bacterial species found in it. While some of these bacteria can be good for your mouth, there aren’t nearly enough to make up for the bad ones. Combine these bad bacteria with food particles, water, and more, and you have a recipe for tooth decay and gum disease. There are good reasons why dentists and hygienists keep encouraging the ritual.

If flossing isn’t your thing, there are other ways to remove plaque and buildup between your teeth. A variety of interdental cleaners are available for consumers, ranging from small brushes to picks, and even water flossers. The important thing is to know and understand the proper technique for whichever tool you choose to use. Your dentist will be more than happy to answer any questions you have! In fact, Dr. Painter would be thrilled that you want to learn about maintaining a healthy smile.

The American Dental Association’s standards for good oral hygiene include brushing twice daily for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste and being sure to clean between the teeth once daily with an interdental cleaner. Regular visits to your dentist, on top of these at-home practices, will help keep your smile looking and feeling beautiful!

More than 18 million Americans deal with sleep apnea – a condition that causes the back of the throat to collapse while they are sleeping, which blocks the airway, automatically reducing the amount of oxygen delivered to all of their organs. People with sleep apnea often snore loudly and stop breathing suddenly for short periods of time during the night. When the blood-oxygen level drops low enough, the body wakes itself up, sometimes even hundreds of times throughout the night. This happens so quickly that your body doesn’t even realize it has woken up, but you may just wake up in the morning feeling restless and unrefreshed.

Did you find yourself relating to situations in the afore-written paragraph? You may have sleep apnea. If you experience unintentionally falling asleep during the day, or general daytime sleepiness, unrefreshed sleep, fatigue, or insomnia, you may be a perfect candidate for an oral sleep apnea treatment.

If you believe you may have sleep apnea, it is a good idea to talk to an AADSM Dentist near you – that is, a dentist who specializes in sleep apnea treatment. Before you go, your dentist may ask you to answer the following, so it may be a good idea to think about answers to these questions beforehand:

What time do you go to bed each night?

What time do you get up each morning?

How many times do you remember waking up each night?

Do you usually feel rested when you wake up?

How often do you take naps during the day?

Do you feel more rested or more sleepy throughout the day?

Visit the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine’s website to find a sleep-apnea-specialized dentist near you.